Bacteria-coated Electrodes to Clean Up Wastewater?

Materials scientists and bioelectrochemical engineers at Cornell University have come up with a nanofiber electrode coated with a conductive polymer that may clean up pollution in wastewater - and produce electricity. "When the PEDOT coating is applied, an electrically active layer of bacteria - Geobacter sulfurreducens -naturally grows to create electricity and transfer electrons to the novel electrode", which thus enables the bacteria to digest pollutants from wastewater, and also produces electricity, researchers state. The new method would be not just efficient, but also cost-effective, which would enhance its use and lead to better wastewater management. The carbon nanofibers were created through electrospinning and carbonization, resulting in a customizable PEDOT-coated electrode that would minimize the surface taken up by pollution-capturing technology while increasing output.